mens rea
Originating from Latin, "mens rea" translates to "guilty mind" and is a key concept in criminal law.
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Definition
C2Criminal Law
(legal, technical)The mental state or intention to commit a crime, indicating awareness of wrongdoing.
Example
- To convict someone of murder, the prosecution must prove the defendant had mens rea.
- Without mens rea, an act may not be considered a criminal offense.